To Europe 1883-84 217 
furniture. We saw the smoke coming out of the door. Caroline 
was on the scene of action, directing like a general. It seems that 
the stove-pipe had become red-hot, & set fire to the hangings of 
the dining-room. In ten minutes 2,000 francs worth of damage 
was done. The two rooms, parlor & dining room which Caro had 
arranged with so much taste were in a great part destroyed. It is 
despairing; this is the second fire she has had! Of course we 
stayed with her until the next day when she started with us for 
Limoges to remain with a friend of hers.— 
When you write to Caro, tell her how much we appreciated her 
hospitality, what a lovely view she has from her home. All this 
you can say with truth. (No use to tell truth about the desolation.) 
Please tell Thibault that I have been intending to write to him 
ever since we were in Rome to acknowledge a Xmas card which 
he was thoughtful enough to send me. Is he not an extraordinarily 
nice child. How is Mr. Ritter.— 
"Paris!!"—We have arrived! 
Your own 
K. M. Drexel 
How is Miss Bess? Thanks for your lovely letters about the 
Dorcas. We are delighted with the beautiful way you are attend­ 
ing to dear Mamma's poor! (All about our visit is a profound 
secret.) Caro's furniture is insured. 
At the "Shatter" (more descriptive than Chateau) 
the young ladies came in closer, direct contact than ever 
before with the almost unbelievable condition of the 
lower, perhaps lowest, state of humanity in Europe. Con­ 
ditions of life were primitive and crude among the French 
peasants beyond anything they had ever dreamed of. To 
Mr. Drexel the visit was a trying ordeal. "Dear Papa," 
the girls would say later, "how bravely he bore up." 
The Drexel irony bubbles up even here. The afternoon 
of the fire, which detained them a day longer than 
planned, Louise and dear papa took a walk. Papa stooped 
in the roadway to carefully pick up a twig and threw it 
far to the side. Louise asked in surprise, "Why did you